When season ticket renewals opened, we noticed you could also put in for away games. This year, we decided it was finally time to try an SEC road game—and College Station was the one calling our name. At first, I couldn’t imagine making the long drive, but now that we’ve done it? I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Hitting the Road
We pulled out Thursday night after work with no strict plan—just drive as far as we could. Between group calls with the kids, a check-in with the Cooks, and a marathon 2½-hour catch-up with Donald and Nicole, the miles flew by. Before we knew it, we’d made it all the way to Shreveport.
That jumpstart gave us the luxury of taking the scenic route the next morning. Our first stop: Barksdale Air Force Base. With Bob’s Air Force background (and of course our BARKSDALE name), we couldn’t pass up a quick visit and a photo op at the visitor’s center.
Scenic Detours & Small-Town Charm
Since we’d already covered so much ground the night before, we had time to meet up with the Walkers and caravan the backroads of Louisiana and Texas. One of my favorite surprises of the trip was Nacogdoches, Texas—a charming little town with brick streets that looked straight out of a movie set (seriously, Hope Floats could’ve been filmed there). We browsed the shops, grabbed lunch, and then finished our scenic drive down El Camino Real.
If you ever take that route, bring a co-pilot who’s willing to look up all the historical markers along the way. I was driving, and Jonathan was working—so we didn't get all the research until after the trip!
First Impressions of Aggieland
Once we rolled into College Station, decked out in Auburn gear, we strolled around campus. It struck me as part industrial, part Southern charm, with some truly stunning trees scattered through the southern side. Pictures don’t do it justice, but I tried!
But here’s why I chose to blog this trip instead of just posting on social media: the people.
Southern Hospitality, Aggie-Style
From the moment we arrived, the hospitality blew us away. People smiled, welcomed us, and even gave up their seats at restaurants—not once, but twice.
Pregame, we wandered through tailgate tents and found ourselves instantly welcomed like we were at an Auburn home game. One of the first groups we met was the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship tailgate. They invited us in, handed us an armband for all-you-can-eat, and never once asked for donations. Only after some conversation did we learn their mission—raising money for scholarships. Their banners displayed graduates they had supported. Such a generous, joyful group of Aggies!
Then came the Aggie Moms. Their tent was beautifully decorated with a photo op spot, and they were handing out free bandanas. (Be looking for something similar on the shop soon!) I snagged one as a souvenir but later passed it along to a young mom I met—seemed like the right thing to do.
Y'all, we were literally invited into any tent we walked by.
Meeting Fellow Fans
During Tiger Walk, we struck up a conversation with the sweetest young family under a shade tree. They were a “House Divided”: Dad, an Auburn grad, and Mom, a loyal Aggie. Their baby wore a tiny shirt that read “I win either way.” Naturally, I gave Mom my bandana gift. By this point, I joked I was running for “Away Game Mayor”—I wanted to meet everyone and hear their stories!
One highlight was chatting with this dad who works with Brave Books. His passion for their mission, family-friendly streaming options, and even his experiences working with Kirk Cameron were so inspiring. If you’ve got little ones, definitely check them out.
Kyle Field Experience
And then there’s Kyle Field. Honestly, it deserves its own blog post. The traditions. The noise. The sheer heat. The atmosphere was electric, and our seats gave us the perfect view to soak it all in. Even better—we were surrounded by fun, friendly fans, which made the experience even more memorable.
Final Thoughts
Our road trip to College Station was everything we hoped it would be: scenic drives, small-town surprises, southern hospitality, and one unforgettable gameday. From Auburn to Aggieland, this trip proved that sometimes the journey is just as special as the destination.
War Eagle—and here’s to the next adventure on wheels!
